Illusion device.



PATENTED APR, 3,, 1906.

P. N. REEVES. ILLUSION DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 20, 1906.

2 sHBETS-SHEBT 1.

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F. N. REEVES.

ILLUSION DEVICE.

APPLIGATION FILED JAN. 20, 1906.

2 SHBETS-SHEET 2.-

WITNESSES: mum r01? UNITE *sTATEs PATENT oEEicE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented April a. 1906.

Application filed January 20, 1906. Serial No. 296,987.

To all whom it 11mg concern.-

.Be it known that l, FRANK N. REEvEs, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Illusion Devices, of

' surface.

which the following is a specification.

The primary object of this invention is the production of an illusion for/attracting attentionto store-windows for advertising purposes, though it may also be used for entertainment on the stage and for various other urposes. This illusion is produced by causlngone or more unattachedrepresentations of human hands carrying each a marking device to pass over and write, draw, or othere wise mark upon a preferably vertical writing- The illusion depends for its attraction upon the mystery which surrounds the manner of supporting and operating the hand. Since there are no means visible to the spectators whereby the hand is either supported or moved, the curiosity is at 'once aroused as to how this is accomplished.

Inorder to more fully describe my inven tion, reference will be had to theaccompany- 1 ing drawings, which. illustrate one embodiment thereof, and in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of the device, partly in section; Fig. 2, arearelevation of the same; Fig. 3,a section throughone of the I hands, showing the. parts ofl its operating mechanism, partly in section and partly in elevation; Fig. 4, a similarview in which the hand is shownin part section and in which the h nd is shown inpos itiomin which the markng device carried thereby is lifted from the writin -surface; Fi 5,afront eleva tion of one of t esaid han s; Fi 6, a side elevation, partlyin section, of tl ie tracing stylus and associated operating mechanism;

, and Fig. 7., an enlarged diagrammatic view of the pantographic mechanism and associatedparts. i i i i 1 Similar numeralsrefer to similar parts throughout the severalviews. i I

i In carrying out the form ofmy invention shown in the accompanying drawings .1 provide asuitableframework laand mount this upon four upright hollow supports 2, 3, 4,

and 5, which are in turn supported by asuitable base '6, which latter maybe the floor of a store-window, stage-floor, "or other supporting structure. For reasons which will hereinafter more fully appear the supports 2 to 5 pass through the base 6, as shown.

Secured fast to the front of the frame 1 is a vertical plane surface 7 consisting, preferably, of a plate of non-magnetic material. This plate 7 forms a backing for the paper 8 upon which the visual impression-si1ch as writing, drawing, or printing-is made by the mystic hand. This paper may be placed against the plate 7 in separate sheets; but I prefer that it be continuous. I therefore employ a paper-r0119 and mount thisroll for rotation between two brackets 10 upon the Base 6. The paper from the roll 9 is then carried up in front of the plate 7 and thence to a drum 11, mounted on a shaft 12 for rotation between brackets 13, made fast to the ceiling or other supportin structure above. The shaft 12, upon whic the drum 11 is mounted, carries a ratchet 14, fast thereon, and an arm 15, loose thereon, said arm carrying a counterbalance-weight 16 at one end and a pawl 17 at the other end, adapted to engage the teeth of the ratchet 14. By means of a cord 18, secured to the end of the arm 15 opposite the weight 16-, rotation may be imparted to thedrum 11 by successive pulls on saidcord. By this arrangement the paper may be fed past the plate 7 and fresh surfaces thereby brought into position to receive the writing or marking. 3

Any suitable means may be em loyedfor keeping the paper taut. In the rawingsl have shownfor this purpose a stopawl 19, engaging the ratchet 14.- to revent t e backward rotation thereof, an a friction-spring 20, secured to the bracket 10 and adapted to bear against the paper-roll 9. 1 a

Securedf'ast to the front of the frame 1 is a preferablyf metal trough 21, the function-of which is to act as a support or receptacle for the mystic1hands-when they are not in operation. This" trough has its bottom cut away at 22, so as to allow the paper to pass between it and the plate 7.

Oneof the mystic hands, togetherwith its marking device, is most clearly shown in Figs. 3, 4-, and 5. This mystic hand consists, preferabl of a hollow representation the specific form shown this marking device consists of a fountain-ipl lancomprising a tube 23, held between the gersas in the act of writing and communicating, bymeans of an IIO opening 24, with the interior of the hand proper, 25, which is provided with apartition 26 to form a reservoir 27 for the reception of .ink 28. Awick 29, passing through the inkreservoir into the tube 23, feeds the ink to the writing-surface by capillary attraction.

Upon the side of the hand which is adapted to be nearest the paper there is provided a series of ball-casters 30, 31, and 32, the casters 3 1 being located intermediate between theand by means of the fountain-pen 23 to write, draw, or otherwise mark upon the surface of the paper, there being visible to the spectators no means whatever whereby the hand is held against the paper and moved over the surface of the same. I accomplish the necessary operation of the hand to produce the above mystifying efiect b means of one or more magnets located on t e opposite side of the writing-surface from the hand and acting upon one or more soft-iron armatures carried by the hand. Obviously if the hand is of magnetic material theadditional armatures would be unnecessary. The necessary movement of the operating magnet or magnets may be secured either manually or automatically. In the fomer case the necessary movement of the hand over the paper may be secured by placing a human operator behind the apparatus and hidden from view to the spectators in front thereof and causing this operator to impart the necessary movement to the ma net or magnets by guiding the same with his and. I prefer, however, to manipulate the operating magnet or magnets automaticallyas, for example, by means of 'pantographic or other a paratus. In the form of my invention herein illustrated this appa-- ratus for guiding or manipulating the magnetor magnets consists, among other parts, of a preferably light metal carriage 33, provided with a set of grooved metal rollers 34, which travel on guide-rails 35, made fast to the back of the framework 1, as shown most clearly in Fi 2. diiially to form two guideways 36, between which travel an auxiliary carriage 37, mounted upon grooved metal rollers 38, arranged to This carriage 33 is recessed longituupon the said carriage.

travel on the guideways 36. This auxiliary carriage carries two electromagnets 39 and 40, located one above the other a distance apart to correspond with the distance between two soft-iron armatures 41 and 42, made fast to the side of the hand which is adapted to lie next to the paper. These magnets are secured to thmarringc37 bymoausof the yoke pieces 43 and 44,respectively. The carriage 33' is provided at one end with two extensions 45 and 46, (see Fig. 7,) in which are journaled, respectively, two pulleys 47 and 48, of insulating material. At the other end of said carriage are two similar extensions 49 and 50, in which are journaled two insulatingpulleys 51 and 52. The auxiliary carriage 37 1S provided with two extensions 53 and 54, in which are 'ournaled, respectively, pulleys 55 and 56. T ese'latter pulleys have a center of insulating material and a grooved metal rim.

One terminal of both magnets 39 and 40 is electrically connected, as at a point 57, to the metal frame of the carriage 37. The

other terminal of magnet 39 is electrically supporting structure 6 is a framework (see Figs. 1 and 2) similar to the framework 1 and mounted upon supports 61, 62, and 63. Secured to the front of this framework is a plane surface consistin preferably, of a board or non-magnetic metafiic plate 64, the object of which is to act as a support for any matter which it is desired to reproduce by writing, drawing, or the like on the paper 8. This lower frame also carries metal guideways 65, upon which travel grooved metal rollers 66, carried by a carriage 67, similar in all respects to the carriage 33. Mounted to travel in the guideways- 68 of the subcarriage- 67 is an auxiliary metal carriage 69, mounted upon grooved metal rollers 7 O. This auxiliary carriage is also provided with extensions 71 and 72, which carry insulating-pulleys 73 and 74, having metal rims similar to the rollers 55 and 56 of the u per auxiliary carriage.

Secured to t e lower auxiliary carriage is a yoke-piece'7 5, 'to which is'made fast an electromagnet 76. The carriage 69 also carries a stylus 77, the latter being mounted upon a metallic arm 78, fulcrumed in a support 79 The upper carriage 33 is connected to the lower carriage 62 t rou h the medium of a flexible wire or metal cor 80, connected, as at point 81, to the carriage 33 and passing over pulleys 82, 83, and 84 and thence through ollow support 3 to an insulating turnbuckle 85. In the diagram Fig. 7 the pulley 82 is omitted. connected to a flexible met a1 cord or wire 86, which passes over pulleys 87, S8, and 89 to The turnbuckle 85 is in turn the point 90,at which it is secured to the sub carriage 67. In the diagram Fig. 7 the pulley 88 is omitted as unnecessary in that view. Secured, as at points 91 and 92, on the upper carriage 33 are two cords 93 and 94, respectively, which pass over pulleys 95 and 96 and connect to a cord 97, which passes over pulleys 98 and 99 to a weight 100 in the hollow support 5. Pulleys 95and 96 have been omitted in the dia 'ram Fig. 7 as unnecessary in that view. .[t will therefore be seen that for each vertical movement of the subcarriage 67 the carriage 33 will move a corresponding amount.

In order to impart to the upper auxiliary carriage 37 the necessary lateral movement for each lateral movement of the subauxiliary carria e 69, I make fast to a fixed point 101 a flexible metal cord or wire 102, which is made to pass over pulley 47, thence over pulley 56, thence over pulley 48, through hollow support 4, to an insulating turnbuckle 103, which is connected toa metallic cord 105. The cord 105 then passes over pulleys 1.06, 74, and 107 to a fixed point 108. The metal cord orwire 105 is electricallyconnected through a switch 109 and conductor 110 from some point below the pulley 107 to a point inthe cord 102 above the pulley 47. (See Fig. 7.)

Aweight 1 11 is suspended within the hollow support 2 from a metallic cord or wire 112, which is secured to an insulating turnbuckle 113. This turnbuckle is then secured at its other end to. a similar metallic cord 114, which passes over pulle s 52, 55, and 51 to a fixed point, as 115. weight 116 is susended within the hollow support 61 of the ibwer frame from a metallic cord or wire 117, which passes over the pulleys 118, 73, and 119 to afixed point, as 120. A conductor 121 is connected to the conducting-cord 114 at some point above the pulley 51 and to the conducting-cord 117 at some point above the pulle 1 19.

A battery 122 or other suitable source of electromotive force is connected between the metallic guides 35 and 65. (See 7 One terminal of the magnet 76 is electrically connected to the metal frame of the carriage 69, while the other terminal of the said magnet is electrically connected to a contact-spring 123, carried by and insulated from said carriage and resting at one end on the metal periphery of pulley 74. A similar contact-spring 124 rests at one end upon the metal periphery of pulley 73 of the subauxilia ry carriage, by which it is carried and from which it is insulated. The contact-s ring 124 is electrically connected to a 'yie ding metal contactapiece 125, mounted on and insulated from the frame of the carriage 69 and adapted to he engaged at times by a contact-point 126 on the arm 78, as hereinafter described.

The lower frame 60 is provided with a ledge or shelf 127, the object of which is to serve as asuppcrt for aplurality of blocks 128, 129, and 130 of any suitable material. These blocks serve as telltales when a plurality of mystic hands are employed, and when of non-magnetic material each is provided with a soft-iron armature 131 for attraction by the ma net 76. The use of these telltale-blocks wil hereinafter more fully appear.

The operation of the device is as follows: Let it be assumed first that only one mystic hand is employed, that this handis in front of the magnets 39 and 40 on the right in Fig. 2, and that the copy which it is desired to follow by the stylus 77 is upon the plate 64 on the side thereof next to the said stylus. The operator first closes the switch 109 and in doing so completes an electric circuit, which may be traced as follows: from the plus pole of battery 122 to metal guideway 65, rollers 66, frame of subcarriage 67, rollers 70 of subauxiliary carriage 69, frame of carriage 69, coils of magnet 76, contact-spring 123, rim of pulley 74, conducting-cord 105, switch 109,

conductor'llO, conducting-cord 102, rim of.

pulley 56, contact-spring 59, coils of magnet 40, metal frame of upper auxiliary carriage 37, rollers 38 of said carriage, metal frame of carriage 33, rollers 34 of said carriage, guideway 35, back to the negative pole of battery 122. Current from battery 122 flowing over this circuit energizes magnets 40 and 76. The latter magnet we need not at present consider. The magnet 40 becoming energized attracts the lower armature 42 of the mystic hand. (See Figs. ,6 and 7.) The operator then moves the stylus 77 to the point where lie wishes to commence tracing the copy. This movement through the cord connections between the main and auxiliary carriages impartsa corresponding movement to the magnet 40 and therethrough to the mystic hand and marking device carried thereby, for it will be readily seen that the upper carriage 33 will respond to any up-and-down movement of the lower carriage-67, while the upper auxiliary carriage 37 will respond, though in an l opposite direction, to any lateral movement of the subauxiliary carriage 69. Since the carriage 37 responds in an opposite direction to the movement of the carnage 69, the mystic hand will write in the proper direction.

Obviously by a combination of these two movements any angular movement may be obtained. The operator then forcing the stylus 77 forward traces with said stylus the copy before him. This act of forcing the stylus 7 7 forward causes the contact-point 126 to engage the resilient contact 125, which completes a second electric circuit, which may be traced as follows: from plus pole of battery 122 to the metal frame of subauxi iary carriage 69, as described with respect to the first-traced circuit, thence to arm 78, contacts 126 125 124, metal rim of pulley 7 3, conducting cord 117, conductor 121, conducting-cord 114, metal rim of pulley 53, spring-contact 58, coil of magnet 39, metal frame of upper auxiliary carriage 37, rollers 38, carriage 33, rollers 34, guideway 35 to negative pole of battery 122. Current passing over this latter circuit energizes magnet 39, causing it to attract armature 41 of the 7 mystic hand, thus tilting the hand forward, as shown in Fig. 3. This brings the point of the marking device into contact with the writing-surface. When it is desired to raise I 5 the point of the. marking device from the writing-surface, this is done by releasing the pressure on the stylus 77, and thereby breakmg the circuit at the contacts 125 and 126,

whereby the magnet 39 becomes denergized,

and themagnet acting on the armature 42 will tilt the hand away from the writing-surface, as shown in Fig. 4. By this, arrangement the point of the marking device may be brought into contact with the writing-surface 25 and raised therefrom at will by the operation of the contact controlled by the lever carrying the stylus 77. This arrangement enables the operator at will to interrupt the line of writing, such as between words or sentences, and to begin again at any place he may select within the reach of the instrument. In the operation of the machine the operator should after writing the desired matter return the hand to the supporting shelf or trough 21, 3 5 preferably always at the same end of the trough, so that it will be known where to find the hand when it is desired to start the writing of new matter. Upon returning the hand to its original position of rest the operator should also be careful to open the switch 109.

If desired, a plurality of hands may be employed, and each of these may be made to write or otherwise mark in a different color, which may be obtained by sup lying the hands each with a different-colored pencil, or

if they are provided with fountain-pens then by sup lying each hand with a different-colored ink.

In the event that a plurality of hands are employed I rovide for each hand a telltaleblock. In t e drawings I have shown three such blocks 128, 129, and 130 to corres 0nd to the three hands 132, 132', and 132. ndicated in dotted lines, Fig. 1.) These telltale-blocks are painted each in a color to correspond to the color in which the respective hands are adapted to write, so that by-the positions of the telltale-blocks the operator 6c will at all times know the positions of the three hands and will, moreover, know in which color he is at a given time writing. These tel1taleblocks are provided each with an armature 131, which is adapted to be at- 6 5 tracted by-fthe magnet 76. 7 By means of this should, preferably, be in arrangement the different telltale blocks will follow the course of the magnet 7 6.. The magnet 76 is energized whenever the switch 109 is closed, the said magnet being connected by said switch in series with the magnet 40, the circuit of which has been traced.

In practice the device will be so exhibited as to hide from 'thespectators the arran ement of the mechanism by which the han is manipulated, and for, this purpose the device c osed in a box or other suitable covering whichwill hide the mechanism from "view [except .the mystic hand and the surface uponwhich it is desired to Write and the'supporting trough or shelf. Since this box or covering may be made small enough to clearly make it impossible to accommodate a human operator, this will greatly add to the mystery which sur rounds the operationof the hand.

Having thus described a form of my inven tion, what I claim is 1. In an illusion device, a surface adapted to receive visible impressions, a mechanic ally-disconnected body freely movable over said surface, magnetic means to impart motion to said body, and a marking device carried by said body and adapted to make visible impressions on said surface.

2. In an illusion device, a surface adapted 5 to receive visible impressions, a mechanically-disconnected body freely movable over said surface and consisting of a mechanical representation of a human hand, magnetic means to impart motion to said body, and a markin device carried by said body and adapte to make visible impressions on said surface. I

3. In an illusion device, a surface adapted to receive visible impressions, a marking device freely movable in front of said surface and adapted to make visible impressions thereon, and magnetic means comprising an armature operatively attached to said marking device and a magnet on the opposite side of said surface from said marking device to operate said marking device.

4. In an illusion device, a surface adapted to receive visible impressions, a mechanically-disconnected body freely movable by 115 magnetic attraction in front of said surface,

a marking device carried by said body, and a ma net movable on the op osite side of said sur' ace from said marking diavice and body to impart motion to -said marking device over 120 said surface and to control the operation of the same.

5. In an illusion device,a surface adapted to receive visible impressions, a mechanically-disconnected body freely movable byi25 magnetic attraction in front of said surface, said bod comprisin a mechanical representation o a human and, a marking device carried by said body, and a magnet movable on the opposite side otsaid surface from said 1 0 markingdevice and body to impart motion to said marking device over said surface and to control the operation of the same. i

6. In an illusion device, a plane surface adapted to receive visible impressions, a mechanically-disconne'cted body freely movable by magnetic attraction over said plane surface, a marking device carried by said body chanic'ally-disconnected body freely movable by magnetic attraction over saidplane surface, a marking device carried by said body and adapted to make visible impressions on said plane surface, electromagnets on the opposite side of said plane surface to impart movement to said body and to control the operation of the marking device carried thereby, mechanical means to support and move said magnets, and electric means included therein to control the operation ofsaid magnets.

8. In an illusion device, a plane surface adapted to receive visible impressions, a mechanically-disconnected body freely movable by magnetic attraction over said plane surface, a marking device carried by said body 'and adapted to make visible impressions on said plane surface, ma nets on the opposite side of said plane sur ace to impart movement to said body and to control the marking device carried thereby, and pantographic apparatus operatively connected to said mag' nets.

9. In an illusion device, a plane surface adapted to receive visible impressions, a mechanically-disconnected body in the form of a mechanical representation of a human hand freely movableby magnetic attraction over said plane surface, a marking device carried by said body and adapted to make visible impressions on said plane surface, magnets on the opposite side of said plane surface to impart movement to said body and to control the marking device carried thereby, and pantographic' apparatus operatively connected to said magnets.

10. In an illusion device, a plane surface adapted to receive visible impressions, a mechanicall -disconnected body freely movable over sai surface and provided with a fulcrum movable therewith and adapted to engage said surface whereby a rocking motion maybe imparted to said body, a marking device carried by said body and adapted to be brought into contact with said surface and removed therefrom by the rocking motion of said body, and magnetic means to over said surface and comprising a mechanical representation of a human hand having an ink-reservoir therein, a fountain-pen carried by said hand and adapted to receive ink.

from said reservoir, armatures carried by said body, casters also carried by said body to form a support therefor against said surface and to form a fulcrum whereb a rocking motion may be imparted to sai body to bring said fountain-pen into engagement with a and Withdraw the same from said surface, and magnets to control said rocking motion and to move said body over said surface.

12. In an illusion device, a plane surface, a mechanically-disconnected body freely movable by magnetic attraction in front of said surface, a marking device carried by said body and adapted to make a visible impression on said surface, a backing behind said lane surface, a frame supporting said backmg, guideways carried by said frame, a carriage movable-vertically on said frame, an auxiliary carriage mounted to travel longitudinally on said first-named carriage, magnets carried by said auxiliary carriage to impart movement to said body and to control the marking device carried thereby, a second frame, a plane surface carried thereby, a carriage mounted to travel vertically in said frame, an auxiliary carriage mounted to travel longitudinally on said last-named verticallymovable carriage, a tracing device carried by said last-named auxiliary carria e, flexible connections between said vertical y movable carriages and between said longitudinally-movable carriages and counterweights whereby movements of said tracing device are conveyed to said magnets for the manipulation of said marking device.

13. In an illusion device, a plane surface, an impression-receiving surface movable in front of said plane surface, a frame supporting said plane surface, guideways on said frame, a carriage mounted to travel vertically on said guideways, an auxiliary carriage mounted to travel longitudina ly on said first-named carriage, electromagnets carried by the second-mentioned carriage, a plurality of hollow supports for said frame, a

rod

mounted on the last-mentioned auxiliary carriage, a stylus carried b said arm, a plurality of hollow supports or said last-mentioned frame, a lurality of ulleys, a cord passing over said pulleys to orm an operative connection between the vertically-movable carriages, cord connections between said horizontally-movable carriages whereby the movement of one of said carriages may be imparted to the other, a plurality of pulleys on the vertically and horizontally movable carriages over which said cords pass, counterweights suspended from said last-mentioned cords in certain of said nollow supports, an electric circuit and a switch therein for the energlzation of one of said magnets,

.an electric circuit for the energization of the other of said magnets, a switch in said lastmentioned circuit operated by the pivoted arm carryin the said stylus, a mechanicallydisconnecte body freely movable over said impression-receiving surface and having caster-bearings adapted to engage said surface and on which said body is adapted to rock as a fulcrum, armatures carried by said body, and a marking device also carried by said body and adapted to make visible impres sions on said impression-receiving surface.

14. In an illusion device, a plane surface,

an impression-receiving surface movable inv Ways on said second frame, a carriage mounted totravel vertically on said guideways, an 4.5

auxiliary carriage mounted to travel horizontallyon the second-mentioned verticallytraveling carriage, a pivoted arm mounted on the last-mentioned auxiliar Y carriage, a stylus carried by said arm, an electroma et also carried by the last-mentioned auxihary carriage, a plurality of hollow supports for said last-mentioned frame, a plurality of pulleys; a cord passing over said pulleys to form an operative connection between the vertically-movable carriages, cord connections between said horizontally-movable carriages whereby the movement of one of said carriag es may be imparted to the other, a plurality of pulleys on the vertically and horizontally movable carria es, over which said cords pass, counterweig ts suspended from said last-mentioned cords in certain ofsaid hollow supports, an electric circuit and a switch therein for the energization of one of the first-named magnets and the last-named magnet, an electric circuit for the energization of the other of said first-mentioned magnets, a switch in said last-mentioned circuit operated by the pivoted arm carrying the said stylus, a plurality of mechanically-disconnected bodies freely movable over said impression-receiving surface and having caster-bearings adapted to engage said surface and on WhlOll said bodies are adapted to rock as a fulcrum, armatures carried by said bodies, a marking device also carried by each of said bodies, and a plurality of telltale-blocks arranged for operation by the second-mentioned electromagnet.

In testimony whereof Iaffix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

FRANK N. REEVES. Witnesses:

MAX SmoN, E. A. FALLER. 

